Effective communication over the course of a construction project is one of the most important factors in a project’s success. Unfortunately, maintaining communication with the numerous groups of people working on a project is not so easy. Things can often get lost in translation leading to miscommunication, delays, and frustration among team members.

So what is the solution to all of these communication breakdowns?

Daily meetings. It might seem like too simple of an answer, but effective daily meetings are an absolute game changer in the construction industry. Project managers are beginning to realize the significant benefits that daily team meetings offer and they are reaping the rewards.

When it comes to daily meetings, the most effective way to increase communication is to include everyone on the team. This means that everyone including foremen, superintendents, and specialists should all be in one meeting. This gives different groups the opportunity to interact and discuss possible issues with each other and it encourages an open flow of communication. This opportunity not only provides clarity amongst the team but fosters accountability and trust as well.

Take the time to set aside 15 minutes every morning for a daily meeting with the team. Keep the meeting at its scheduled time and try not to put it off unless absolutely necessary. To ensure the productiveness of the meeting, prepare a written agenda ahead of time and stick to it and maintain focus over the course of the meeting. Make sure to communicate with team members the agenda of daily meetings so that they can have a chance to prepare any questions as well.

Depending on the day and type of construction project, the topics of your meetings day-to-day will likely be different. Some possible issues and items to discuss include:

— Go over project schedule and deadlines

— Discuss any safety or security issues

— Go over documents and update if need be

— Review any RFI’s

— Discuss any change orders

— Resolve any unresolved issues from the previous meeting

Make sure you allow for questions and discussion during daily team meetings as well. Everyone on the team wants to feel like they are being heard and an open dialogue provides that. When workers feel like their voice is important, this fosters comradery and trust which means a more positive work environment!

Tip: Keep team members accountable by requiring a check-in at the beginning and end of each meeting.

Meeting notes are another important part of daily meetings. Designate someone to keep the meeting minutes and take notes so that they can be distributed to team members after the meeting to review. When reviewing the meeting notes be sure to encourage team members to read through them meticulously so that they can catch any possible errors. This puts the power in everyone’s hands and allows for members to raise any possible objections to the meeting notes.

Although daily meetings may seem a little excessive, dedicating the time will pay off greatly in the end. You will not only have better productivity, but a closer and stronger team as well!